Cambodian Taekwondo

[Anchor Lead]

Cambodia earned a ticket to compete in the Rio Olympics in just one event, taekwondo. Meet Cambodian taekwondo athlete Sorn Seavmey who has become a national hero.

[Pkg]

She is Sorn Seavmey, a national hero in Cambodia, representing the country's women's taekwondo team.

Training at home was difficult as she couldn't find a suitable partner to practice with. This is why she came to Korea at the invitation of the World Taekwondo Federation. She underwent intense training for two months in Korea and left for Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. Seavmey won a gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games two years ago. It was Cambodia's only medal at the Incheon Asian games and the first ever gold from the Asian Games in 66 years. Her return home from the Incheon games was aired live during the night nationwide. She was taken to the prime minister's residence to be awarded a medal and she became a national hero.

[Soundbite] Sorn Seavmey(Cambodia's National Taekwondo Team) : "Many people recognized me and there has been so much change. Taekwondo was a turning point in my life."

The martial art sport of taekwondo has grown popular in Cambodia as children dream to become the next Seavmey. Korea's profile in the Southeast Asian nation has also gone up.

[Soundbite] Choi Yong-seok(Coach, Cambodia's Nat.l Taekwondo Team) : "Cambodia's first gold medal at the Asian Games sparked a taekwondo boom in the country with all schools adopting the sport in their curricula."

Seavmey is the first athlete in Cambodian Olympic history to earn a ticket to the Summer Games by her own efforts. Her chances in Rio may also serve to further promote the Korean martial art.